Magnet spreader bar

ABSTRACT

An electromagnet carrier for use in lifting elongated metallic objects in which the long axes of the magnets may be oriented to be at right angles to the axis of the plate when elongated steel plates are raised and the long axis of the magnets may be rotated to be parallel with the long axis of the article when lifting long narrow flexible items. Movement of the magnets is accomplished by bringing a long rod associated with the magnet into contact with the gantry column of the crane causing the magnets to rotate to the desired position.

I United States Patent [72] Inventor George W. P. Evam North Surrey,Britkh Columbia, Canada [21] Appl. No. 803,840 [22] Filed Mar. 3, 1969[45] Patented Aug. 24, 197! [73] Assignee Dominion Bridge Co. Ltd.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada [32] Priority Jan. 20, 1969 [33] Canada 1040.652

[54] MAGNET SPREADER BAR 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Hp.

[52] US. Cl 294/655, 294/81 [5]] Int. Cl B66c 1/04, 1521b 3 H06 [50]Field of Search 294/655,

[56) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,564,655 12/1925 Westbo r.294/67 (.2 C)

FOREIGN PATENTS 247,603 6/1912 Germany 294/655 7,294 3/1913 GreatBritain294/63 Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner Douglas D. WattsAttorney-Fetherstonhaugh & Co.

ABSTRACT: An electromagnet carrier for use in lifting elongated metallicobjects in which the long axes of the magnets may be oriented to be atright angles to the axis of the plate when elongated steel plates areraised and the long axis of the magnets may be rotated to be parallelwith the long axis of the article when lifting long narrow flexibleitems. Movement of the magnets is accomplished by bringing a long rodassociated with the magnet into contact with the gantry column of thecrane causing the magnets to rotate to the desired position PATENIEHAUBZd um.

SHEET 2 BF 2 MAGNET SPREADER BAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONElectromagnet carrier arrangements are known in which a plurality ofrectangular electromagnets are carried on a carrier beam inlongitudinally spaced relationship. When lifting elongated steel plateby means of such an arrangement, the long axes of the magnets must beoriented to be at right angles to the long axis of the plate, otherwisethe plate will peel off the magnets and be dropped. On the other hand,when lifting a long, narrow, flexible article, the long axes of themagnets must be oriented to be parallel with the long axis of theelement. In other works, it is desirable to be able to pivot the magnetsthrough an angle of 90 and hold them in either of the two positionsmentioned, otherwise two separate arrangements are necessary. It hasalready been proposed to pivot the magnets by using a power unitinstalled on the beam but this entails the additional expense of thepower unit itself, the power unit control, additional cables to supplypower and additional cable takeup reels. It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a simple mechanical arrangement for altering theorientation of the magnets, using only the power already available,i.e., the power of the crane on which the magnets are mounted.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Basically the invention comprisesan electromagnet carrier arrangement comprising a beam, a plurality ofmagnet-carry ing members extending vertically through aperture means insaid beam, a plurality of plates mounted one on top of each of saidmembers, bar means extending beyond the ends of said beam, meansconnecting said bar means eccentrically and pivotally to each of saidplates whereby longitudinal movement of said bar means will effectpivotal movement of said plates and magnet-carrying members about theaxes of said members, and stop means for limiting the pivotal movementof said plates.

It is preferred that the pivotal movement of the plates is limited to 90and that the arrangement includes spring means attached to the plates tohold them resiliently against the stop means.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now bedescribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view showing the arrangement in use for liftinga plate;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one end of the arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the arrangement; and

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view showing the internal constructionof the arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS Theillustrated arrangement comprises a beam 1 made up of two spaced channelgirders 2 and 3 held in spaced relation by upper and lower plates 4 and5 welded thereto and having apertures 6 therein at spaced intervals topermit passage through the beam of rods 7 of the magnet-carrying members8. The members 8 carry ring shackles 9 at their lower ends and arewelded to plates 10 at their upper ends. Magnets II are suspended fromrings 9 by means of chains 12. The entire arrangement is carried by acrane (not shown) by conventional means including brackets 13 secured tothe beam 1 and block and tackle assemblies 14.

The plates 10 rest rotatably on the beam I via bearings 15 surrounded byskirts 16 which depend from the plates to protect the bearings. Theplates, as shown, are substantially lozenge shaped and have apertures attheir ends to receive bolts 17 which, in combination with nuts 18, serveto pivotally secure flat bar sections l9 of rods 20 to the plates. Therods 20 extend beyond upstanding brackets 21, secured to the ends ofbeam 1, and terminate in cylindrical bumper discs 22.

Rectangular plates 23 are secured to the top of beam 1 adjacent plates10 and are provided with stops 24 and 25 which serve to limit pivotalmovement of plates l0 to A plurality of springs 26 are provided, each ofwhich extends between an upstanding pin 27 on a plate 10 and a like pin28 on a plate 23, pin 28 being arranged medially of the beam 1 and pin27 being arranged midway between the ends of plate 10 and on the sidethereof remote from plate 23 so that the spring will urge the plateagainst either stop 24 or stop 25 when it is moved over dead center.

In operation, if the crane operator has to switch from lilting plates tolifting long narrow articles, he must obviously change each of themagnets from the position shown in FIG. I to a position at right anglesthereto. To achieve this he simply manipulates the crane controls tobring one of the outer bumpers 22 against a gantry column, such as thatshown at 29 in FIG. 2, to move the associated rod 20 longitudinallyrelative to the beam 1, this, of course, causing the plates 10 andmagnet-carrying members 8 to rotate about the axes of the members 8.Once the plates have been rotates past dead center the springs 26 willtake over and bring the plates against the stops 24 and resiliently holdthem there, thus holding the magnets with their longitudinal axesparallel with the longitudinal axis of the beam I. Of course, if theoperator then has to switch to handling plates again, he simply carriesout a similar maneuver, either with respect to the bumper at the otherend of the same rod or the bumper at the same end of the other rod.

What I claim is:

1. An electromagnet carrier apparatus for use in lifting steel plate andlong flexible steel bar stock comprising a beam, a plurality of barmembers extending through apertures in said beam, an elongatedelectromagnet suspended from each of said bar members, a plurality ofplates mounted one on top of each of said bar members, a pair ofextension bars disposed above and parallel with the said beam, means forconnecting said extension bars eccentrically and pivotally to each ofsaid plates such that longitudinal movement of the said extension barswith respect to the said beam will cause pivotal movement of the saidplates and rotation of the connected bar members about their axes, andstop means for limiting the pivotal movement of the said plates, thesaid bar members and suspended magnets.

2. An electromagnet carrier apparatus as claimed in claim 1, includingspring means attached to said plates for urging said plates resilientlyagainst said stop means.

3, An electromagnet carrier apparatus as claimed in claim I, whereinsaid stop means are mounted on said beam to limit pivotal movement ofsaid plates to 90.

4. An electromagnet carrier arrangement as claimed in claim 2 whereinsaid stop means are mounted on said beam to limit pivotal movement ofsaid plates to 90.

1. An electromagnet carrier apparatus for use in lifting steel plate andlong flexible steel bar stock comprising a beam, a plurality of barmembers extending through apertures in said beam, an elongatedelectromagnet suspended from each of said bar members, a plurality ofplates mounted one on top of each of said bar members, a pair ofextension bars disposed above and parallel with the said beam, means forconnecting said extension bars eccentrically and pivotally to each ofsaid plates such that longitudinal movement of the said extension barswith respect to the said beam will cause pivotal movement of the saidplates and rotation of the connected bar members about their axes, andstop means for limiting the pivotal movement of the said plates, thesaid bar members and suspended magnets.
 2. An electromagnet carrierapparatus as claimed in claim 1, including spring means attached to saidplates for urging said plates resiliently against said stop means.
 3. Anelectromagnet carrier apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stopmeans are mounted on said beam to limit pivotal movement of said platesto 90*.
 4. An electromagnet carrier arrangement as claimed in claim 2wherein said stop means are mounted on said beam to limit pivotalmovement of said plates to 90*.